Posted on 03/28/2014 7:30:51 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Congressman Thomas Massie (Republican–KY), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (Democrat –ME) and a bipartisan coalition of 18 other lawmakers have introduced legislation to improve consumer food choices, including access to raw milk, and to protect local farmers from federal interference. The two bills – the Milk Freedom of Act of 2014 and the Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2014 – are the first in Massie’s series of “food freedom” bills he plans to introduce.
Massie has a unique perspective: “As a producer of grass-fed beef, I am familiar with some of the difficulties small farmers face when marketing fresh food directly to consumers. Our bills would make it easier for families to buy wholesome milk directly from farmers by reversing the criminalization of dairy farmers who offer raw milk,” said Massie. “The federal government should not punish farmers for providing customers the foods they want, and states should be free to set their own laws regulating food safety.”
Although Congress has never passed legislation banning raw milk, the federal Food and Drug Administration has used their regulatory authority to prosecute farmers for selling raw milk. Raw milk is fresh milk that has not been pasteurized and contain beneficial nutrients that have not been eliminated by the pasteurization process.
The Milk Freedom Act of 2014 would provide relief to local farmers, small producers and others who have been harassed, fined and in some cases even prosecuted for the “crime” of distributing unpasteurized milk. This bill would prohibit the federal government from interfering with the interstate traffic of raw milk products.
Likewise, the Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2014 would prevent the federal government from interfering with trade of unpasteurized, natural milk or milk products between states where distribution or sale of such products is already legal.
(Excerpt) Read more at benswann.com ...
Nanny State PING!
It was foolish to ban the stuff in the first place.
it is about time to kill a cow
Some people have forgotten the diseases that were spread by unpasteurized milk.
My cousins and I spent our summers on my grandfathers dairy farm. We all drank raw milk, drank water from the farm well and didn’t hesitate taking a drink out of the local spring fed streams. And we all somehow survived.
I am 67 years old and have never had a debilitating disease other than old age.
I attribute my relative old age, without significant illness to my exposures to all the nasties that come with raw milk, unfiltered well water and refreshing sips of cold, cold natural spring water.
True, but people should be allowed to make their own choices and the FDA should not be prosecuting farmers for it, especially when it is legal under state law.
They spend a lot of time and money persecuting small producers while all the serious cases of widespread food borne illness comes from big producers.
The USDA meat inspection progam is the number one roadblock in small producers being able to market locally raised meats sucessfully.
Thanks for the ping!
It’s about freaking time!
Who gets to say what kind of milk you get to drink?
This is still America..isn’t it?
I will confess that raw milk is delicious, a delicacy, and after you taste it, pasteurized and homogenized milk tastes like chalky water.
But this sets up an interesting contest. In such bureaucracies, there are a goodly number of bacteriophobes, convinced beyond any doubt that all bacteria are evil and should never be allowed in anything at all. That food should be “dead” and sterile.
In Europe, such bureaucrats are so out of control that they demanded that German beer be pasteurized, as well as cheese like Brie, Camembert, and the various blue cheeses. Which of course are abhorrent suggestions. But they don’t care.
On the other side of the argument are people who are willing to take the risk of getting milk borne diseases.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that of 239 hospitalizations caused by tainted dairy products from 1993 through 2006, 202 involved raw milk or raw-milk cheese.”
So there is a risk. The CDC notes that children are most susceptible to such harm, with 82% of the cases, many requiring hospitalization, so if you do consume raw milk, it is best to think of it as an adult beverage.
I never drink milk to begin with, so no problem. Humans are one of the few creatures aside from cats who drink milk after they have been weaned.
It would be nice to be able to drink some milk that doesn’t have a bunch of sugar added to it.
You’d think that the liberals would be all for this. If it passes, with obama veto it and stick to his base?
Raw milk, labeled as such should be legal. Drink at your own risk
“Some people have forgotten the diseases that were spread by unpasteurized milk”
Yes, and those people should be able to buy it and drink it. They shouldn’t though, be able to sue the dairy farmer after they get sick from it
drank raw mile, shallow well water, springs, brooklets, - as did everyone I knew......
Never knew anyone to get sick from them.
Lot of people getting VERY sick tho from drinking today's milk with it's antibiotics, growth hormones, etc -
and drinking high priced recycled sewer water from Los Angeles, Denver, Jacksonville, etc - from which prescription drugs DO NOT filter out. People pay top dollar for these bottled waters. (If I have to buy bottled water when on a trip - I buy only water labeled ‘spring water’) -
By the way, been drinking my own well water here for 23 years. No problems....no bleach.
People forget that, before the Police State, milk was a deadly poison. /s
I am fortunate to live in a State where it is legal to buy/sell raw milk. I buy raw milk and make kefir out of it because in the days of Obamacare I feel that I must be able to boost my immune system in order to avoid Obamacare’s doctors.
Kefir from raw milk is legendary for its’ benefits to one’s health and longevity.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that of 239 hospitalizations caused by tainted dairy products from 1993 through 2006, 202 involved raw milk or raw-milk cheese.”
Your kidding me right? Less than 20 a year and we must ban the sell? Good grief! I’m 64 years old and the first 14 years of my life was spent drinking raw milk and eating home made butter.
What do you do to introduce beneficial bacteria to your own digestive system?
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